<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000818969
<NAME> PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          53,708
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    903,398
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          32,109
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            31,729
<LOANS>                                      1,964,190
<ALLOWANCE>                                     26,878
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,026,895
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,970,690
<SHORT-TERM>                                   544,884
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             30,002
<LONG-TERM>                                    269,581
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,278
<OTHER-SE>                                     202,460
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,026,895
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 74,852
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               34,661
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               109,513
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              36,561
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              60,091
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           49,422
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,887
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 178
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 26,429
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,284
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      20,284
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,320
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.42
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.58
<LOANS-NON>                                      4,449
<LOANS-PAST>                                    21,661
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                24,828
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,061
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,224
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               26,878
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            26,878
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0